Fresh Fruit - Not just for fruit bowls....

This fall, the UCCE Master Food Preservers of Orange County volunteers have been creatively processing their harvested bounty of fresh fruit grown at the UC ANR South Coast REC. The collection of apples, persimmons, citrus, and pomegranates have been dried, canned, and preserved as jams.

Not always having time to process the harvest, coordinator Cinda Webb found a very artful and nutritious way to utilize the fruit - as a fresh centerpiece for her holiday table. After finishing their scrumptious meal, guests readily snacked on the fresh fruits available at their finger tips - leftovers were then later processed as time permitted.

If you would like to learn more about food preservation and public workshops such as 'Preserving the Season: Gifts from the Kitchen' go to  http://ucanr.edu/sites/MFPOC/.